Signaling device for automobiles.



' E. T. BURROWES.

SIGNALING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1909.

1,032,185 Patented July 9, 1912.

PATENT oFiFIoE.

EDWARD r. Bvnnowirs, or ronrnaiin, MAINE.

SIGNALING DEVICE Fen ao'rom'omms.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Pate'nted JuIyB, 1912.

Application filed November 24, 1909. Serial No. 529,776.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD T. BURROWES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Cumberland and {State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Devices for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to signaling horns of that general type usually employed on automobiles, and has for 1ts object the provision of a horn havin means for blowing the same, in combination with instrumentalities rendering the blowing means inactive or the horn unresponsive in sound to said blowing means at the will of the user.

It has becomea matter of common knowledge that in automobile service, although 'the horn is a very desirable signal because of its peculiar characteristics as an alarm and the facility with which it may be operated, there is, however, the serious disadvantage incident to its use that children or the by-stander will playfully manipulate the horn when the vehicle is at rest, or unguarded, thus creating a substantial and obnoxious nuisance.

My invention has for its aim the overcoming of the objection or disadvantage noted, and in carrying the invention into practical effect I conveniently interpose in one embodiment thereof, at a point intermediate the blower and the horn, an adjusta- 5 ble device adapted in one position to permit the horn .to be actuated by the blower, and in another position to prevent actuation of the horn notwithstanding the manipulation.

of the blower.

Although the invention is capable of being embodied in many forms and devices, I .have, for the sake of imparting a clear understanding of the same, herein disclosed embodimerts thereof,,each of which comprises a horn, a blower, which in this instance is a rubber bulb, as shown, a flexible tube connection between the bulb and the horn, and a valve positioned in said tube adapted in one of its positions to permit the air to pass from the bulb through the tube and horn to blow the latter, and in another of its positions to prevent the passage of sufiicient air from the bulb and tube to blow the horn.

Details in the construction and arrangement of parts W111 be apparent from the ac companying drawings forming part hereof, wherein said embodiments of the invention tion with the specific description hereinafter contained.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a horn provided with thepresent improvements, Fig. isle sectional view. through the valve, lohg'tudnall thereof, Figs. 3 and 4 are tranaver es ctional views on the lines m-m and, z of Fig. 2, Figs. 5 and 6 are views sim'i. ar to Figs. 3 and 4 of a structure modified somewhat with reference to the form illhstrated in the first mentioned figures. Fig. 7 illustrates a modified form of cut off mechanism, the same being positioned directly at the base of the bulb, this being show in longitudinal section, and Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the same in cross section.

Referring more specifically to the figures of the drawings, wherein like reference letters designate similar parts in the several views, A represents a horn which is of any usual or preferred type, the details of which are unimportant so faras the present invention is concerned, and therefore need not be. illustrated herein, B the air bulb adapted to be manually compressed to blow the horn, and C the flexible air conducting tube connecting the bulb with the mouth of the horn. These elements are those commonly employed, although they may of course be of any other or improved type desired, it being noted that the flexible tubing, conveniently of rubber, is Wound with a protecting spiral of brass Wire D.

In the tubing C at a point intermediate the horn and the bulb B, or equivalent blower, I introduce a valve casing E having branches or nipples e fitting the ends of the tube sections. Adapted to rotate within the casing E is a rotary valve F provided with a transverse port f, the valve being supported upon a stem G passing through alined ing, said stem at one end being provided with a handle or finger piece H for operating the same and at its opposite end with a nut J restricting the outward pull of the stem for a purpose as will presently appear. Interposed between the nut J and the adjacent end of the casing is a spring K normally exerting an expanding pressure against the out J to draw the stem 111 that apertures g in the opposite ends of the casare illustrated, when considered in connecdirection whereby to seat a locking lug or notch or groove 5 provided therefor in the adjacent end of the rasing. To permit longitudlnal movement oi the stem tat thr ugh the rotary valve F while maintaining; the operating connection therobetween, l form the stem of angular cross section to slide within a complementary bore of the valve.

As represented at M. a restriroat air passage is at all times all'orded around the valve, the valve fitting its seat in a relatively loose manner for that purpose.

The foregoing being the structural characteristics of the device. the operation tlltl'U- of may now be followed.

Normally, when the horn is in use, the valve occupies the position with its port in registration with the tube sections (7 so that the manipulation of the bulb causing the rush of air through the tube and horn will blow the latter. The valve is held in this position through the medium ot the spring K which retains the stem and valx against rotation by means of the interlib ting or interlocking ot the lug ii on the stem with the recess or notch Z of the casing. When it is desired to put the horn out of: commission, as when the occupant of a vehicle leaves the same, a draw upon the stem of the valve in the direction of the arrow will release the lug L from the notch l and the valve may be turned to bring the port f at right angles to the pipe secti ns and close or interrupt the continuous passage therethrough. The valve may alsolwlm-lteil in this position by engagement of the lug L with a second notch Z.

It is to prevent puncture or damage of the bulb incident to vigorous compression of the same when the valve is closed that. the small air passages M are provided. it being; understood that such passages will permit a slow exhaust of air sutiicient to relieve the pressure on the bulb, but insntiicient in volume to blow the horn.

It is apparent that any type of handle may be employed in connection with the valve.

In the form of device illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, the structure is in general respects the same as that illustrated in the preceding views, the casing E in this form having annular f f to form a notch, as at f for the reception of the locking lug h on the handle or finger piece H, the flange f being threaded for the accommodation of a cap J. In this in stance the valve F formed integral with. the finger piece H, the valve being devoid of any stem but rather mounted to rotate in the flanges or extensions f f as is obvious. A spring K within the casing intergosed between a shoulder m of the valve 411 the adjacent Wall of the casing, serves t 1 h; H; in

l Y (P taut-1,. :2 will ta oln ions to permit the his: or

feathta to ride upwardly out of the sllltl, inrideizt to a atria turning mow-Ham r said end may in ..;re toi'ompel an in:- tial lifting or drawing IIH H'IIInllt ot the valw afain t the pro -arc ot' the spring ti. prior to the sulmapirnt turning oi t in thrla-tt dt-srrihod torn it noted that the slight spare part; upital by the pring! ati'ortls the restricted pa t for air around the valve in ali oi tions.

It is to he understood that where l hav herein. or in the appended claims, ret'tirred to the element of the horn, the word is intended in a generic sense, contemplating a horn pr!" w, or equivalent s und signaling; device. I i

in the t 'ti"-.i.ill{'t tfit shown 5*. l have dept-to l. at: arrangeiuent litW-Jti'i m by turning the bulb or the hull; v43cm. suit able re. istering apertures arr. la'ought into registration or thrown out ot reg. ration.

as to permit the air to move from the hulhto the tube or to cut tt the air in whole or in part. "the ret't-rcirfr; letter i represents the hull, B the tnlw. The htttlll ot the bulb rurrics metallic nipph within which is pla d a dial; 1) h-r i marginal spat-o 1'3" at all times open. "the tlt-li is paoi'itl t c nveniently two air p. ages and i fixed against rotation independent ot its carrying nipple The voii 'wrating or associat d nipple ll" carried l v thr rnil ot' the th i r till is joined to tho n pph" l) by a pling join 4 cosiwim-n i in t engaging: r illt'tf'liltltiil' rrtn'zpz-s Inemhor ran he turrwl on the other. upper part oi the at hippie a d sulwtan ialv the Hom ror-.. plat in t. it: at arruiii'i'z i to tit '5 ter 1:-l;a.te. By turning the bulb an pie, the openings in the plate are made to register, while a movement; in the opp xite direction would t'irow' the openings o' registration, thus closing the rommi ni zr tion between the bnih and the tube "the space between the plates and the it y-ple walls permits a slight ITXOYQHIJ'HL of air from the bulb to the tube, as in the other forms. In this latter nioditim-it'i n, any corpvenient locking means can be empl ad. wherein the lower margin of the bulb hip pie is reinforced by split band H, having outstanding ears L one of which is free to receive threaded bolt hi having a squared. end h. This squared end is adapted to fit a key carried by the user or operator, The

he valve.

fa-J i i;

tube is split at a pointbetween the ears of l the actuation of the blower, said instruthe ring. so that by turning the screw bolts, the lower part of the nipple will be tightl clamped on the tube nipple, thus prev nting rotation. and. other means can be employed in loc ing the parts against rotation.

I claim 1. A device of the cl'iaractt-r described comprising a horn for motor vehicles and the like. manually operable means to create a blast for blowing the same, a pipe con- 'nection between said means and horn, and

means in the pipe connection adjacent to said manually operable 11 mm for rendering the horn unresponsive to the blowing means and for releasing the pressure on the iir terior of said manually operable means while the horn remains unresponsive.

A device of the character described comprising a born for motor vehicles and the like, operable means for creating a blast to blow the same, and a alved device interposed between the horn and the blowing means provided with an enlarged passage adapted in one position of the, valve to permit the born to be actuated by the blower and in another position to prevent said actuation, said. valved device also having a relatively restricted passage to relieve the pressure of the blowing means when the enlarged passage. is closed.

A horn, and means for blowing the same, in combination with a valve interposed between the horn and blower adapted in one position to permit the horn to be actuated by the blower, and in another position to prevent said actuation, the valve structure having av relatively large blow opening and a relatively restricted relief passage discharging from the blower when the valve is in position to prevent actuation of the horn. substantially as described.

4. horn. and means for blowing the same having instrinnentalities for preventing actuation of the horn notwithstanding This form can be in -"ifiel 1 mentalitis embracing a relief passage of restricted .1 :ea relative to the blow opening disolwarg ng from the blower when the horn not actuiml, sabstantiallv described.

5. it horn and a, blower tiieretoi', in combination with a valve tIltcl'pOSQtl. between the blower and the horn adapted in one position to prevent actuation of the horn and in another position to permit actuation thereof. said valve being provided with means for locking the same in adjusted po sition, including a. cooperating lug and notch, and a spring for retaining the lug in engagement with the notch, said spring being arranged within the casing between a part of the valve and the wall of the casing, the space in part occupied by the spring atl'ording a constant air passage through the valve,substantially as described.

6. A signaling device for automobiles comprising a horn having a compressible bulb for blowing the same, and means preventing the blowing influence of the bulb on the horn while permitting dissipation of the air therethrough when operated by an authorized persons.

7. A signaling device for automobiles comprising a horn having a compressible bulb for creating a blast, in combination with a valve, means for operating the valve independently of the blower, said valve being interposed between the horn and blower so that in one position the horn may be actuated by the blower and in another posi tion sound will be prevented notwithstanding an attempted operation of the blower to create the blast. the device having an outlet to relieve operating pressure within the bulb when sound is prevented.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDVARD T. BURltUlVES.

\Vitnesses L. Gr. \Vnvnocrn, Pnimr H. HonsToN. 

